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GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

Praying in the End Times

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Any mention of the end times arouses curiosity among those familiar with biblical prophecy. It seems our thoughts run quickly to the end of the world and the speculation that surrounds it.

We imagine that any praying going on during such final tumultuous times would be cries for help, or pleadings for mercy. It might be helpful to define the end times as the Scripture does and see how prayer relates.

Old Testament Pictures of the Christian Journey

The apostle Paul describes the journey of Israel from Egyptian slavery to the occupation of the land of promise as a pattern for the Christian journey.

"These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come." -- 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NRSV)

Since the coming of Jesus to the earth in his incarnation, the last stage of history has begun. God spoke in many ways prior to this event, but Jesus completed the story and fulfilled the promise. We are now "restored partners." Just like Adam and Eve partnered with God to manage the earth, and Israel was God's chosen nation to carry out his plan to bless the world, we have been chosen to represent him on earth.

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The natural phenomena contained shadows of ultimate reality pointing toward a substance that is made real after the resurrection. The rock from which life-saving water flowed was Jesus. The bread that nourished starving people was Jesus. The cloud spoke of the presence of God among his people -- fulfilled in Jesus.

The people of God now consist of those who are "in Christ." We are his "end times" partners, privileged to co-labor with him in magnifying his name in all the earth.

Access to The Father

Jesus made it clear that something was different after his coming to earth. It was on the very night that he was betrayed and tried, that he told his disciples that he was going to the Father to make a place for them to have the same access to him as he, the Son, has. He told them that after his ascension, the Holy Spirit would come and make their new status real.

"On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." -- John 16:23-24 (NRSV)

We are God's partners on earth making requests from a willing Father that will be answered by heavenly power invading earthly circumstances.

It was clear that Jesus expected them to go straight to the Father, using his name, to receive what they needed to magnify his name in every circumstance. They had been captured by his love and freed by his death and resurrection. They had one primary purpose for living. They lived to make his name great on the earth. Only this would make their own joy complete.

They had been created and redeemed to glorify God. Their living, thus their praying, related to this purpose. The disciples had been confident that the Father would hear and grant the request that Jesus made. But he was telling them that on this day, they would get the same results. It was mind-boggling.

We still live in that day. We are God's partners on earth making requests from a willing Father that will be answered by heavenly power invading earthly circumstances. We are not being forced to pray as an obligation. We are privileged to pray, knowing that our Father is eager to hear and respond.

As end times people, we run to the prayer meeting. We need no shame-based motivation. It is our opportunity to participate in the kingdom of God coming to earth. We ask. He answers. His name is magnified. We worship.

The post Praying in the End Times appeared first on The Stream.

705. Born Identity: God’s Forgiveness Is Not Repeated

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If we needed to continue seeking more forgiveness from God for every time we fell short, then the second covenant established by Jesus was a failed experiment. Repeated forgiveness is what the Jews pursued under the first covenant (before the cross).

If more forgiveness needs to be dispersed by God, then Jesus would need to keep offering Himself again and again. We have a better proclamation inside of a new and better covenant. Sins weren’t just covered; they were taken away.



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Is Jesus The Tithe?

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I pray you are super blessed by this wonderful teaching by Pastor Greg Riether of Healing Grace Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’m convinced Jesus wants His Bride (The Church) to live in freedom in this area! I have also created some artwork quotes from this message that you can save to your camera roll and […]

703. Born Identity: You Are Sanctified

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Hollow religious teaching will declare you’re saved by grace (justified), but being sanctified is a gradual, progressive, life-long process which must work at in order to become more set apart before they reach the finish line . It’s time to change our thinking. Consider that through the cross God has already gifted you with sanctification and this is the starting line. Whew! It’s the ultimate head-start, and now you can run from here.



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Don’t Be Swayed By Other People’s Opinions Of You

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Something very interesting happened to me in the past 7 hours and I’ve got to tell you about it. This is going to encourage you! Last night, right before I went to bed, I happened to come upon a negative review of my audiobook titled, “I Tried Until I Almost Died.” This lady was slamming […]

701. Born Identity: You Have Been Perfected

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It’s been said that “nobody is perfect.” While that may be true from a behavioral perspective, it shouldn’t be confused with who God has already made us to be as believers in Jesus Christ. You have been perfected, not by how well you perform or by the things you do, but by what Jesus did on our behalf. Perfection was a necessary requirement, but we will never achieve this status based upon our works and behavior. While behavior improvement can gradually take place in our lives and result in good and positive results - it has nothing to do with having already been perfected in Him. Growing in our understanding that Jesus has already made us inwardly complete will likely result in beneficial, outward changes with what we do. But we should avoid getting this backwards or it will lead to frustration, guilt and fear. God demanded perfection, not progress. Therefore, He provided a Substitute, not a goal.

We borrowed the last part above from our friends at The Grace Cafe Podcast, and we mentioned them on this podcast. We recommend that you give them a listen!



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You Have Authority In The Name Of Jesus

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This past Sunday we watched The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at a youth event at our church. What a great movie! Colossians 1:11-23  11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May […]

700. Podcast 700 – Growing in Grace Highlights

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Just a couple of months ago we celebrated 14 years of the Growing in Grace podcast. This week we hit another milestone - our 700th Growing in Grace podcast! To create a special edition of the podcast, both Mike and Joel have dug into the archives to share some "highlights" from past Growing in Grace podcasts. We truly enjoy sharing our hearts every week regarding this wonderful gospel of grace, and we hope you enjoy hearing these gospel nuggets.



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“Teenagers, What I Want You to Know”

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There are so many things that I want to tell young people. That time in life when you are searching for meaning, looking for your place, trying to fit in. If you will give me your ear, I promise I will not judge. Here are a few suggestions that may make the journey a little less painful.

1. Pain is normal. Everyone feels it. Don’t run from pain, lean into it and allow yourself to take shape. Life is a series of ups and downs, without the downs you wouldn’t appreciate the ups and it’s the ride that will color your life and make you strong. This idea that you are the only one feeling what your feeling is common. Those feelings are very real and in some cases frightening, it’s ok. You are not in this fight alone. It is in these times that you reach beyond yourself, beyond your reasoning and your age to something higher. It’s now that you begin to lean on and trust your creator. God equipped you with everything you need and even when you can’t see it or feel it, trust Him. He has got you, just trust Him. Tell Him you trust Him, give the pain to Him, give the confusion, the heartache, the fear to Him and trust that He has you.

2. You will make mistakes, it’s a part of the growing process. No one on the planet can do it all right. Be willing to acknowledge your need for help. There is nothing shameful or weak in needing help with things. Anyone that tells you that you shouldn’t ask questions and get help is doing damage, don’t listen, don’t be a part of the lie. It is this very willingness to admit your weakness that brings you your greatest strength. When you are weak He is strong. God isn’t afraid of your weakness, He knows you are imperfect, He is cool with that. He made you so you will trust Him, not so you will do it all yourself. Trust Him and at the same time allow others to be used by Him to help you.

3. Your identity is not found in labels. No matter what label you have been given, whether good or bad, whether positive or negative. You may be gifted and talented, you may have ADHD, you may be athletic, you may be musical, and you may have no idea at all what you are. These things do not identify you. What identifies you comes from where you get your life. As a believer your life is not music, athletics, sexuality, diagnosis, these are not your life. These are things your life deals with, but who you are is who Christ is. Who you are is loved, forgiven, new and right, just to name a few. In fact, Christ is your life. Recognize that, acknowledge that and the labels and the diagnosis are just a part of your journey. Enjoy the journey, but don’t mistake those things for your life. Someday the athletics will end, the talent will fade, the diagnosis will not be such a burden, but Christ will always be your life, allow Him to live through you.

4. If you are in a situation and something doesn’t feel right, listen to that and act on it. Trust your heart. Listen to the still small voice in your heart and allow it to guide you. It will save you from mistakes, hurt and disappointment. Listen to those who have had this journey already, people like your grandparents. Respect their knowledge and their years. They may have different views than you, but try and see the world through their eyes. You don’t have to agree, but listen, respect and give them your time. Theirs is limited.

5. Finally, when you are laying in your bed at night with the lights out and your eyes closed, think about Christ life moving through your hormones and your veins. See His light transforming you, see yourself swimming around in it. Drink it in. Try and imagine the depth of the love that He has for you, with no regard for faults, or labels. Accept that love, see yourself running in a wide-open field of it. Then wake up knowing that His life is your life, His strength is your strength, His peace is your peace, His mind is your mind and go conquer the day!

Wynema I Clark – 4/24/2017

Beyond Resurrection

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Hand of Christ

Resurrection Sunday is by far the most dynamic day of the year for the Christian. All the hopes of humanity are fulfilled in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is so much more than a doctrine. The resurrection declares that a new creation has begun within the old creation, and the possibilities of transformation are mind-boggling.

If (since) Jesus is really raised from the dead, and we are given his life (the eternal kind of life), then we know we shall forever live with him. But there is more. We share the power that raised Jesus from the dead. The ramifications of that are limitless.

His Power for Those Who Believe

The apostle Paul prayed “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints. And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:18-20 NRSV)

 
 
 
 
 

The same power that raised Jesus is in us who believe. It enables us to say "no" to the lures of sin, to forgive the offender, to love the undeserving, to lay our lives down promoting God's great redemption, to rejoice always, to believe against great odds, to walk on with hope when darkness seems to prevail, to sing through tears, to stand alone for the gospel, and to bless those who curse us.

It is truly supernatural. But we must acknowledge that the resurrection introduced a new kind of creation to the world. Those who share the resurrected life of Jesus are characterized by transformation. Their stories reveal drastic change.

Without shame, they own their desperation while embracing his gracious intervention. They know that they cannot live by the powers of their own personality. They need the "other worldly" power they receive from him. They expect that power to enable them to express an "other worldly" kind of love that never fails, though it is often working behind the scenes.

They also expect the Father to answer their prayers according to that same power. They are not praying to simply relieve stress. It is not self-talk. They are aware that they are partners with God in getting his purpose done on earth, and that they are privileged to pray while he is delighted to answer.

Living By His Power

Truly celebrating Resurrection Day includes living each day considering the glorious explosion of power demonstrated that day. Each day is an opportunity to see that power again. Our needs are inviting us to enter the realm of resurrection-living. We don't have to wait until next Easter to celebrate resurrection. We live by the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>

Beyond Resurrection

by

Resurrection Sunday is by far the most dynamic day of the year for the Christian. All the hopes of humanity are fulfilled in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is so much more than a doctrine. The resurrection declares that a new creation has begun within the old creation, and the possibilities of transformation are mind-boggling.

If (since) Jesus is really raised from the dead, and we are given his life (the eternal kind of life), then we know we shall forever live with him. But there is more. We share the power that raised Jesus from the dead. The ramifications of that are limitless.

His Power for Those Who Believe

The apostle Paul prayed “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints. And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:18-20 NRSV)

 
 
 
 
 

The same power that raised Jesus is in us who believe. It enables us to say "no" to the lures of sin, to forgive the offender, to love the undeserving, to lay our lives down promoting God's great redemption, to rejoice always, to believe against great odds, to walk on with hope when darkness seems to prevail, to sing through tears, to stand alone for the gospel, and to bless those who curse us.

It is truly supernatural. But we must acknowledge that the resurrection introduced a new kind of creation to the world. Those who share the resurrected life of Jesus are characterized by transformation. Their stories reveal drastic change.

Without shame, they own their desperation while embracing his gracious intervention. They know that they cannot live by the powers of their own personality. They need the "other worldly" power they receive from him. They expect that power to enable them to express an "other worldly" kind of love that never fails, though it is often working behind the scenes.

They also expect the Father to answer their prayers according to that same power. They are not praying to simply relieve stress. It is not self-talk. They are aware that they are partners with God in getting his purpose done on earth, and that they are privileged to pray while he is delighted to answer.

Living By His Power

Truly celebrating Resurrection Day includes living each day considering the glorious explosion of power demonstrated that day. Each day is an opportunity to see that power again. Our needs are inviting us to enter the realm of resurrection-living. We don't have to wait until next Easter to celebrate resurrection. We live by the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>

The post Beyond Resurrection appeared first on The Stream.

699. Our Life Is Not Found in the Bible

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The Scriptures have been a centerpiece of our program over the past 14 years. But many “Christian” programs, churches, and ministries can make that claim. You’ve probably noticed there is a wide variety of opinions and interpretations as individual verses or passages can leave people in a place of bondage, hungering and thirsting for righteousness because the good news of the gospel is often missing. Much of this stems from mistakenly trying to apply the Old Covenant of law and mixing it with New Covenant grace. The written publication we know as “The Bible” hasn’t always existed. It went through many transformations with how it came to be published and continues to do so today. For centuries, most people never had easy access to these writings as many of us do today. How did they survive spiritually? It was by the life of Christ through God’s Spirit living in them. Of course we cherish the Scriptures and we know God is able to reveal actual truth to us by His Spirit when we are taught by Him. But those pages are not where life is attained or sustained… they point to the one and only source of Life - the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.



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